Each week, RGJ sports writer Chris Murray will rank the Mountain West basketball teams. Here are this week’s rankings, with each team’s record and a comment. All records and rankings based on the games completed by Monday night.

1. Nevada

Rank last week: 1

Record: 18-4, 7-1 MW

Comment: Time to regroup for Nevada, which saw its 13-game Mountain West win streak and six-game MW road win streak snapped in a double-overtime loss at Wyoming. The Wolf Pack can rue a missed call late in overtime, its inability to hit free throws down the stretch and an opportunity missed, but it can’t dwell on the loss with a tough slate of games upcoming. Nevada should be in store for some close games in the coming weeks, and the Wolf Pack is 2-4 this season in games decided by six points or fewer. That’s one of the few chinks in the armor for Nevada, which remains the MW team to beat even if the margin between it and Boise State has slimmed.

2. Boise State

Rank last week: 2

Record: 18-4, 8-2

Comment: Like Nevada, Boise State has responded well after losses this season. After each of its four defeats, the Broncos have won at least its next two games, so it hasn’t suffered any hangovers following a loss. Boise State has stayed within striking distance of Nevada and still gets to host the Wolf Pack on Valentine’s Day in what will be a gigantic game. The Broncos get Wednesday off before hosting UNLV on Saturday. Boise State has three very winnable games before that home matchup with Nevada.

3. New Mexico

Rank last week: 4

Record: 11-11, 6-3

Comment: New Mexico has done a terrific job defending home court in conference play, going 5-0 in The Pit to counterbalance a 1-3 record on the road. The Lobos travel to Utah State and San Jose State this week and must sweep those games to keep alive its chance to legitimately stay in the conference title race. Either Nevada’s Eric Musselman or Boise State’s Leon Rice will win the MW coach of the year award – it will go to whichever team wins the title – but New Mexico's Paul Weir has done a terrific job this season.

4. Wyoming

Rank last week: 5

Record: 14-7, 5-3

Comment: Wyoming has now beaten Nevada, Boise State and San Diego State, so the Cowboys shouldn’t be scared to play anybody in the MW Tournament. Of course, all of those games were played in Laramie and last I checked the MW Tournament will not be held there. But, Wyoming has shown it can beat the conference’s top teams, and Justin James also has emerged as one of the conference’s top players. The senior guard is averaging 22.3 ppg in MW play, including four games of 30-plus points.

5. Fresno State

Rank last week: 3

Record: 15-7, 5-4

Comment: Fresno State lost Saturday at home to Utah State, dropping the Bulldogs to 3-4 at Save Mart Center over its last seven games after going 38-4 in their previous 42 at home. That has been Fresno State’s biggest issue in MW play. The Bulldogs now face their toughest road trip of the year with games at Nevada and Wyoming this week. Fresno State must split those to make up for some of the home losses. A win at Lawlor Events Center would not be unprecedented. Fresno State is the last foe to win in Reno.

6. San Diego State

Rank last week: 6

Record: 12-8, 4-5

Comment: San Diego State’s loss at UNLV on Saturday gave the Aztecs defeats in four of their last five games. SDSU’s defense has slipped in conference play, resulting in the below-.500 mark against MW teams. The Aztecs are allowing opponents to shoot 45.8 percent from the field in MW play. That mark sat at 38.9 percent in non-conference action. That is a major difference, and the program that was once built on defense and rebounding is now losing games because of that defense and rebounding.

7. Utah State

Rank last week: 9

Record: 12-11, 5-5

Comment: Utah State snapped a four-game skid with wins over Air Force and at Fresno State last week. The Aggies swept their two-game series with Fresno State for the first time since the 2010-11 season when both were in the WAC (the team went 30-4 that season, including 15-1 in the WAC). Utah State hosts New Mexico on Wednesday before getting the weekend off. The magic number for the Aggies is 70. The team is 10-3 when scoring 70-plus points this season and 2-8 when being held below that number.

8. UNLV

Rank last week: 7

Record: 15-6, 4-4

Comment: You could argue in favor of a higher position for UNLV, but I’d like to see the Rebels beat a good MW first. UNLV’s four conference wins have come over SDSU, Colorado State, Air Force and San Jose State (and three were by six points of fewer). I’d like to see an actual quality win before moving UNLV up the rankings. After hosting San Jose State on Wednesday, UNLV will get that chance when it has back-to-back road games at Boise State and Nevada, the top two teams in the conference.

9. Colorado State

Rank last week: 8

Record: 10-13, 3-7

Comment: Colorado State has dropped four in a row and six of its last eight, and things don’t get any easier moving forward. The Rams play rival Wyoming and then host Nevada this weekend. Neither Prentiss Nixon (sprained ankle) nor J.D. Paige (broken hand) will play in this week’s games. Those are the Rams’ top two scorers, and Colorado State already was limited in its scoring options before those injuries. Things are likely to get a lot uglier in the short term. Thin Team + Injuries = Very Bad.

10. Air Force

Rank last week: 10

Record: 8-12, 2-6

Comment: Air Force lost at Utah State (by 22) before playing Boise State tough at home, eventually falling by six. That was a one-possession game before the Broncos closed things out late. The Falcons have Wednesday off before playing at San Diego State on Saturday. Air Force has won two of its last three road games – victories over San Jose State and Colorado State – but haven’t won at SDSU since 2004-05, a string of 12 straight losses (Air Force has scored 51 points or fewer in nine of those games).

11. San Jose State

Rank last week: 11

Record: 3-17, 0-9

Comment: SJSU’s losing streak reached 10 games after defeats to Boise State and Wyoming last week. The Spartans pushed the Cowboys into overtime on a last-second layup by Jalen James, but Wyoming’s Justin James scored nine points in the extra period to lead the Cowboys to a 90-86 victory. Ryan Welage scored a career-high 37 points in the loss. SJSU draws UNLV and New Mexico this week as it aims to end a 14-game MW skid.

Columnist Chris Murray provides insight on Northern Nevada sports. Contact him at cmurray@rgj.com or follow him on Twitter @MurrayRGJ.